Feb. 14

What’s wrong with this news story? If one follows news about immigrants and cultural diversity in Finland on Uutiskynnys.fi, one daily will stand out from the rest: Ilkka. The newspaper from Seinäjoki appears to specialize in writing about the Perussuomalaiset’s (PS)* anti-immigration rhetoric without asking the all-important question: What are your sources and can you back up your claims? Their latest story about PS MEP Jussi Halla-aho is a perfect example. “It’s the truth that where there’s a problem nearly always there are Muslims. Their culture and religion hinders their integration into Western culture,” he was quoted as saying. Ilkka permits a politician, who was sentenced for ethnic agitation, to make such fiery statements without even questioning them. Ilkka is shoddy and opinionated journalism at its worst in Finland.

* The English name of the Perussuomalaiset (PS) is officially the Finns Party. The names adopted by the PS, like True Finns or Finns Party, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and xenophobia. We therefore prefer to use the Finnish name of the party on our postings.